About the Artist

A playwright, performer, professor and storyteller, Dr. Deryl Johnson began teaching at Kutztown University in 1993. In addition to his creative pursuits, he served as the founding director of Kutztown’s LGBTQ+ Resource Center and twice as president of the Kutztown University Senate. Johnson is the playwright of Peter Taylor’s “Old Forest”, “Short Changed: Depicting Women in Literature”, “Persona” and “Just Wilde about Haring”. Johnson’s most acclaimed play is “Centralia.” His book and play of the same name follows the saga of the Pennsylvania mining town consumed by an underground fire and the people who stayed. He is also the adapter/director of four plays for WVIA’s NPR Radio project based on the short stories of Pennsylvania native John O’Hara.

Johnson is a member of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education’s DEI Advisory Board (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) and the IDEA Council (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access) of the National Communication Association. He is currently a professor, and former chairperson of KU’s Department of Communication Studies, where he teaches Storytelling, Spoken Word Poetry, Acting and Introduction to Theatre. Johnson is the 2016 National Communication Association Lambda Award winner for service to the LGBTQ+ Community.

Accessibility & Content Considerations

Contact the Fringe Festival Box Office for up to date accessibility information.

This event is appropriate for ages 18+

Adult Language

Content includes references to violence and suicide.

Covid-19 Safety policy

This event does not require proof of vaccination to attend or masks to be worn